	Article Directory		Article Submission Service		Article Marketing Blog		Publishers		Member Log In

Article Directory :: Home & Family Articles

Am I Feeding My Baby Right?

By David Cummings

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 30Jun2009
Word count: 479
Viewed: 319 time(s)

Get Free Content For Your Site

If you are a normal parent, you have heard some of the following comments from well-meaning family members, friends, and even complete strangers. Something that should be so simple - feeding your baby - suddenly becomes a confusing catalog of do's and don'ts.

"You should not give them eggs before they are one."

"Give her some cereal before bed and she will sleep through the night."

"No wheat in her diet until she is one or she will have an allergy."

And the best: "You're feeding her THAT!?!?"

If you are looking for guidance about feeding your baby, talk first to your child's pediatrician. However, these guidelines should help clear the picture for you a bit.

Starting Solids Is Not That Important

For the first year of your baby's life he needs nothing more than breast milk or formula for complete nutrition. He can eat solid foods, and most pediatricians recommend this so that he gets used to eating, but the main source of nutrition is liquid.

That being said, when your baby is between four and six months of age, you can start some pureed foods. When your baby starts to show a lot of interest in the food you are eating, can sit up with slight support, and opens her mouth when the spoon comes her way, she is probably ready to start solids.

Start with a single item, like rice cereal. Feed it to your baby for a week, and watch for any signs of an allergy or reaction. If she takes to cereal well, you can continue to introduce solids one at a time. Traditional advice says to start with veggies, followed by fruits, and then meats, but you can start with fruit if you prefer. Wait to serve pureed meats until your baby is closer to nine months to twelve months, as they are harder to digest.

Transitioning to Table Foods

As your baby gets better at eating the purees, start making the texture chunkier so she gets practice at chewing. When she is good at chewing soft chunks, you can gradually transition to finely cut table foods, but make sure everything is very soft.

You will probably worry about choking as you start feeding your baby table foods. Babies can choke, but for most kids the gag reflux is strong enough to prevent this if they get a hold of something they are not ready for. Of course, do not let your baby eat unattended, just in case. Focus on giving baby a variety of foods to taste, but do not worry too much about how much she eats, as she will be getting plenty of nutrition from her milk source. Soon your baby will be eating like a pro, so enjoy these early days of feeding your baby, and keep your camera handy to catch the funny faces and messy meals.

David Cummings is a devoted family member and a regular author on parenting topics. He is devoted to helping other parents create quality time with their families and to assist children-oriented organizations as well. As the manager of Bustling Baby, LLC, he locates baby products that appeal to both men and women, such as baby carriers and slings offering convenience for active parents, and Safety First Eurostar Travel Systems, which provide style and functionality

EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here